A time capsule stuffed with products made in the Lehigh Valley, from Crayola crayons and Peeps marshmallow candies to Broadcom semiconductors and a Musikfest mug, has gone on display this week at Bethlehem's National Museum of Industrial History, as part of a yearlong effort to document what the region makes and who it is in 2026.
What's Inside
The “Made in Lehigh Valley” time capsule contains items from 18 local manufacturers, businesses, and organizations. Among the confirmed contents: Crayola crayons, Peeps, a Broadcom semiconductor, and a Musikfest mug. The collection was assembled to represent the breadth of industries that call the Lehigh Valley home, from iconic consumer brands that trace their roots to the region to the advanced technology companies that have made it one of the fastest-growing manufacturing corridors on the East Coast.
America 250 and a 50-Year Wait
The initiative was launched by the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation (LVEDC) and the National Museum of Industrial History (NMIH) as a contribution to the nation's 250th anniversary celebrations. A public exhibition of the capsule's contents opened at NMIH on July 4, 2026, timed to America's 250th birthday. The physical time capsule itself made its debut at the museum this week.
Once sealed, the capsule will remain closed for 50 years. It is designed to be reopened in 2076, when the United States celebrates its 300th anniversary, offering future generations a firsthand look at what the Lehigh Valley was producing and what it valued in 2026.
About the National Museum of Industrial History
The National Museum of Industrial History is located at the former Bethlehem Steel plant complex along the south side of Bethlehem, adjacent to the ArtsQuest SteelStacks arts and entertainment campus. The museum's permanent collection focuses on industrial innovation in America, with a particular emphasis on the iron and steel industries that defined the region for much of the 19th and 20th centuries.
At a Glance
The “Made in Lehigh Valley” time capsule is on display this week at the National Museum of Industrial History in Bethlehem.
The capsule contains items from 18 local businesses and organizations, including Crayola, Peeps, Broadcom, and a Musikfest mug.
The project was organized by the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation (LVEDC) and NMIH as part of America's 250th anniversary.
The capsule will be sealed and will remain closed for 50 years, with a planned reopening in 2076 for America's 300th anniversary.
NMIH is located at the former Bethlehem Steel complex, adjacent to ArtsQuest SteelStacks.
